Australian MP resigns over dual nationality in brand-new blow for government

Australia’s Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull said he would likely not call a general election after a citizenship crisis claimed another member of parliament on Saturday, leaving his government clinging to power with the support of two independents.

Australia’s constitution bars dual nationals by parliament, along with Turnbull’s center-right coalition government was thrown into disarray last month by a High Court ruling in which several of them were ineligible to be lawmakers.

Earlier on Saturday, Conservative Liberal party MP John Alexander told reporters in Sydney he was no longer certain in which he was solely Australian, along with in which meant he had to resign.

Turnbull will deal with issues such as a no-confidence motion when they arise, he told a televised news conference in Vietnam’s central city of Danang, where he is actually attending a summit of Asia-Pacific leaders.

“We develop the support of the crossbench on matters of confidence along with supply. There is actually no question of in which happening,” Turnbull added, ruling out the possibility of a no-confidence motion.

His center-right coalition government must rely on the two independents to vote with in which to safeguard its position along with block the passage of legislation in which opposes.

Turnbull said he expected a December 2 by-election would likely return Barnaby Joyce both to parliament along with to his former position as deputy prime minister, thus bolstering the government.He ruled out an early return to Australia following Alexander’s resignation.

“in which is actually my obligation in which I must resign,” Alexander told a news conference. “in which’s what I will do. I think there is actually a great need for certainty, to clarify the situation along with to do so as expeditiously as possible.”

Alexander had been waiting for Britain’s Home Office to clarify whether he held British citizenship by descent. in which is actually not known whether they responded. He would likely have to confirm sole Australian citizenship before fighting a by-election to regain his seat.

Alexander said he planned to contest the by-election which The Sydney Morning Herald said must be announced no later than Monday, to allow the minimum 33-day campaign required to hold the poll on December 16.

Only the two independents at in which point guarantee Turnbull’s position after the High Court ruling expelled three members of the Liberal-National coalition government by parliament, having a fourth resigning days later, after confirming his dual nationality.